Presented by Tulsa Innovation Labs
As the global energy system evolves, companies are racing to adopt technologies that can provide real-world solutions, especially in difficult industries. Oklahoma, long known as the oil capital of the world, is a center of energy innovation, with the Rose Rock Bridge at the forefront.
A nonprofit based in Tulsa, Rose Rock Bridge is a pilot deployment studio that connects early-stage energy startups with corporate energy partners, non-exchange funding, and pilot opportunities that accelerate commercialization. Now accepting applications for its Spring 2026 cohort until April 6, it is looking for early- and growth-stage startups developing practical, scalable solutions to today’s most pressing energy challenges.
Rose Rock Bridge gives startups access to real-world commercial workflows and pilot opportunities through energy partners with market capitalizations over $150 billion, including Devon Energy, H&P, Oneok and Williams. Backed by one of the strongest alliances of strategic partners and investors of any energy-focused accelerator, incubator, or venture studio, the program enables startups to move rapidly from development to real-world testing and deployment.
This is how it works:
Explore energy innovation opportunities
Rose Rock Bridge begins by working directly with corporate innovation teams to identify high-priority technology solutions for their businesses, pinpointing which solutions will have the greatest impact. Focus areas are created around these findings.
“We don’t just chase the latest technology and expect to find uses for it. Our process starts at the asset level — “Identifying the specific operational constraints and unmet needs our partners are actually facing,” says Innovation Manager Nishant Agarwal. “Leveraging our backgrounds in CVC and engineering, we work in technical depth with partner subject matter experts to first define the need. Then we source technologies as a direct response to those needs. This ensures that we are not only presenting ‘interesting research’ but also providing solutions with a clear vision of a valid deployment path and business case.
Leveraging its network of 40+ universities, 10+ energy incubators and Fortune 500 companies, Rose Rock Bridge identifies emerging opportunities in the energy ecosystem. Instead of selecting only companies or ideas that can bring capital, the studio chooses startups that have real potential to quickly commercialize to solve the industry’s most pressing challenges.
This year’s focus areas include:
- Operational Agility and Integration
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Reservoir and production growth
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fluid system
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robotic
"We are evaluating the possibility of deployment from day one," Says Andrada Pantelimon, Innovation Associate at Rose Rock Bridge, who manages sourcing strategy and startup operations. "Can this technology provide measurable bottom-line impact? Can it realistically operate within 12 months? Is your team equipped to commercialize? Show us that you have determined your value proposition in the operator’s context and understand which business unit within the corporation can own this solution. If you can articulate those pieces clearly, you’re the type of startup we want to support."
Derisk Technologies for early-stage startups and energy companies
This benefit is real for leading energy corporations seeking proven solutions to complex operational challenges. Rose Rock Bridge provides validated, field-tested technologies to its corporate partners while significantly reducing deployment risk. At the conclusion of the program, partners receive direct access to emerging innovations that have already undergone technical validation and operational feasibility assessment, as well as procurement pathways and pilot plans designed for commercial deployment.
In each cohort cycle, up to 15 startups are selected to enter a six-week virtual accelerator focused on pilot deployment. Founders participate in reverse pitch sessions with oil and gas partners, one-on-one clinics with industry and capital advisors, and practical commercialization workshops. Founders have the unique opportunity to refine their solutions, assess pilot feasibility, and build industry connections. This approach drives adoption and risk investment through iterative customer feedback, in-field testing and pilots, enabling critical technologies to reach commercial feasibility quickly and effectively.
"Our curriculum specifically focuses on preparing startups for the realities of corporate partnerships." says Devon Fanfare, Rose Rock Bridge manager and former TechStars managing director, who is expanding the RRB program. "Founders aren’t just learning, they’re actively testing their assumptions with the exact customers who can deploy their technology. That rapid feedback loop is what turns promising technologies into deployment-ready solutions with clear commercial pathways."
At the conclusion of the Accelerator, teams participate in the Rose Rock Bridge Showcase, a unique opportunity to present their startup to the energy corporate partners with whom they have worked for the past six weeks. Four startups have been selected to receive up to $100,000 in non-dilutive funding and opportunities for business support services, joining a one-year cohort designed to prepare technologies for market adoption.
“The Rose Rock Bridge is a cornerstone of Tulsa Innovation Labs’ strategy to showcase our region as a national hub for energy innovation,” said Jennifer Hankins, managing director of Tulsa Innovation Labs. “By connecting emerging technologies with some of the nation’s largest energy leaders, we help move innovation faster from concept to market, attract new businesses to the area, grow our existing businesses and strengthen Tulsa’s role in the global energy economy.”
Deploy Viable Energy Solutions
Once selected to become Rose Rock Bridge members, startups pilot their technology with relevant energy partners and scale their enterprise in Tulsa. Support includes pilot design, execution and go-to-market strategy, connections to follow-on investment opportunities, subsidized access to services including legal, marketing, PR, and assistance in establishing Tulsa’s presence for partner outreach.
The success of Rose Rock Bridge is measured not only in deployment of pilots, but also in lasting business relationships. Many portfolio companies have advanced from early field trials to multi-year contracts with Fortune 500 operators. By de-risking the path from proof-of-concept to procurement, RRBs have helped establish procurement pathways that might otherwise take years to develop, if they materialize at all.
The studio, launching in 2022 with support from Tulsa Innovation Labs, has helped companies advance new technologies, secure patents, launch products and attract capital. It has de-risked 33 startups, supported 16 active or in-development pilots, and invested over $2 million in early-stage companies, generating a combined portfolio valuation of over $55 million.
Examples of the studio’s success include Safety Radar, an AI-powered risk management platform, securing its first contract with Rose Rock Bridge Partners, expanding to additional energy and aerospace clients, raising over $2 million, and establishing a Tulsa office. Canadian company Kinetics Automation successfully piloted this with a partner, resulting in deployment across multiple sites and effectively using RRB as their gateway into the US market.
Backed by corporate partners with more than $150 billion in combined market capitalization, the Rose Rock Bridge reflects both the scale of the opportunity and Tulsa’s growing influence in energy innovation.
Devon Fanfare is the manager of the Rose Rock Bridge.
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